Next game: USF (12-13, 5-7) at UAB (15-9, 8-3)
When: Sunday, February 16, 4 p.m.
Media: ESPN+ and Bulls Unlimited
It was a “then-and-now” moment Thursday night when the USF men’s basketball team went to the dressing room trailing 14th-ranked Memphis by 15 points at halftime.
A little more than a year ago, the Bulls fell behind 10th-ranked Memphis by 20 points – on the road no less. But a furious second-half rally gave the Bulls a signature one-point win and helped propel them to the regular-season American Athletic Conference championship.
However, Thursday’s game didn’t have anywhere near the same vibe. Even though USF played Memphis even in the final 20 minutes, there was never going to be another miracle finish. Memphis left with an 80-65 victory, and the Bulls were left with more questions than answers.
Please permit an editorial comment here.
This team plays hard every night for interim coach Ben Fletcher but the skill level is not there. Last season showed everyone what USF basketball could achieve, but with each passing game that seems more like a fleeting memory of Camelot with sellout crowds and national acclaim.
Watching the Bulls struggle to score against Memphis (and many other teams) begs the question: Would this team have been significantly better if Amir Abdur-Rahim was still the coach?
Maybe.
But when you consider that USF’s top three scorers from a year ago hit the transfer portal, maybe not.
For instance, take that game last year against Memphis. Selton Miguel had 21 points that night; he's at Maryland now. Kasean Pryor had 21 points and 10 rebounds. He's at Louisville now, rehabbing a season-ending injury. Chris Youngblood had 13 points, but he plays for Alabama now.
This time, the Bulls were 9-for-29 from the field in the first half. They got good looks, but the shots weren’t falling.
“Even though they were lengthy team, we got the good shots. Just knock those shots down and we can compete with anybody,” Fletcher said. “Even though they are number 14 country, that didn't really faze us coming in.
“If we knocked those shots down, it’s a completely different game.”
Perhaps.
Alas, there have been a lot of “if we…” nights this season.
To be fair, there are also nights when the Bulls dazzle and delight, such as the double overtime win over Temple when USF scored 100 points. There was the Rice game where the Bulls trailed by seven at the half but rallied to win.
They overcame a 10-point deficit with 5:05 to play to beat Tulsa.
Unfortunately, those games were counted by as many dispiriting losses, and as a wise man once said, you are what your record says you are.
The Bulls are 12-13. Not good, not terrible.
Considering everything that has happened to this program in the last few months, we probably should have expected that.
It’s nobody’s fault. For now, it’s just the way it is.